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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

The Agatha Christie Challenge --- The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Synopsis From Dust Jacket:

In the village of King's Abbot, a widow's sudden suicide sparks rumors that she murdered her first husband, was being blackmailed, and was carrying on a secret affair with the wealthy Roger Ackroyd. The following evening, Ackroyd is murdered in his locked study-but not before receiving a letter identifying the widow's blackmailer. King's Abbot is crawling with suspects, including a nervous butler, Ackroyd's wayward stepson, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Cecil Ackroyd, who has taken up residence in the victim's home. It's now up to the famous detective Hercule Poirot, who has retired to King's Abbot to garden, to solve the case of who killed Roger Ackroyd-a task in which he is aided by the village doctor and narrator, James Sheppard, and by Sheppard's ingenious sister, Caroline.

This was a reread for me so I'm way past some of the controversy that this book sometimes causes. Some critics have said that this book wasn't done in a fair manner, that the solution to the crime comes out of thin air. The first time I read it I have to admit to being taken by surprise as to the identity of the killer, but with each reread I find myself picking up one the clues that Christie left for us to see and that Hercule Poirot explains to the killer as he is recounting how he solved the case.

Now this book is a little hard for me to review because of how important the identity of the killer is to the overall impression of the book. I can't say too much more without giving more away that would be fair to new readers. I will say that his is one of Christie's best mysteries in my opinion, one that is based on a limited reading so far, and the solution is genius. She pulls the reader into the story and into trusting the killer, not even thinking that this person is even a suspect. It's brilliant and I urge everyone to give this one a try.

14 comments:

Thanks so much for not giving too much away!! I'm on a Christie roll right now and will be trying to read all of the Poirot books this year. After your great review I can't wait to get my hands on this one!!

Always enjoyed the locked room mysteries on the Late, Late Show, but could never get into Agatha Christie for some reason. I know you've really enjoyed the ones you've read, so may have to give her another chance.

Liked your review and how you didn't give anything away, but made the book sound interesting!

I remember reading this and just being so blown away by the end, then re-reading it immediately in a whole new different light. It is hard to pull off a twist; most of the time I feel let down or irritated because the book did not lead up to the twist properly.

Oh, I just love it when people discover Christie. Like you, Ryan, the more I read her books, the more clues I spot. While I can understand how some would say this one is unfair, I think she was scrupulous about scattering clues for the judicious reader.